System and method for searching and browsing for directly and indirectly matching media content

Abstract

A method of searching for directly and indirectly matching media content in a metadata database is provided. Searching may include matching keywords in search criteria or using predefined search criteria for browsing of static or dynamic listings of media content. The method includes receiving a search request including search criteria, and searching the metadata database for a digital media selection matching the search criteria. A mapping of metadata of the media selection may be utilized to find a matching media article that directly or indirectly matches the search criteria. The method also includes determining availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection. A search result set with the matching media articles and matching media selections is provided, based on their availabilities. An associated content provider may be linked to the customer based on a subscription. The media selection may be accessed by an audio/visual display interface.

1 . A method of searching for media content in a metadata database connected to a processor, the metadata database comprising metadata of a media article for being available at an article dispensing machine and metadata of a media selection for being available at an associated content provider, the method comprising:
 receiving a search request, the search request comprising search criteria;   matching the search criteria to the metadata of the matching media selection in the metadata database, in response to the search request;   utilizing a mapping of the metadata of the matching media selection to the metadata of a matching media article in the metadata database to select the matching media article, wherein the selected matching media article comprises at least one of the matching media selection in physical format, an indirectly matching media selection in physical format, or an indirectly matching media article;   identifying the associated content provider;   determining an availability of the matching media selection at the associated content provider;   determining an availability of the matching media article for distribution from the article dispensing machine; and   providing a search result set comprising the matching media article and the matching media selection, based on the determined availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving predefined search criteria in response to a browsing request, the predefined search criteria for browsing of static or dynamic listings of the media content; and   matching the search criteria comprises matching the predefined search criteria to the metadata of the matching media selection in the metadata database, in response to the search request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an inventory database connected to the processor, and wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving the search request from a first location;   determining the availability of the matching media article comprises:
 determining a second location of the article dispensing machine closest to the first location; and 
 querying the inventory database to determine whether the matching media article is available at the second location of the article dispensing machine; and 
   providing the search result set comprises providing the matching media article at the second location of the article dispensing machine in the search result set, if the matching media article is available at the second location of the article dispensing machine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an inventory database connected to the processor, and wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving the search request from a third location;   determining the availability of the matching media article comprises:
 determining locations of a plurality of article dispensing machines closest to the third location; and 
 querying the inventory database to determine whether the matching media article is available at the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines; and 
   providing the search result set comprises providing the matching media article at at least one of the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines in the search result set, if the matching media article is available at at least one of the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein providing the matching media article comprises ranking the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines in order of distance from the third location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata of the media article and the metadata of the media selection each comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the associated content provider comprises associating a unique customer identifier with a customer subscription at the associated content provider, wherein the customer subscription is stored in a customer profile database connected to the processor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining the availability of the matching media selection comprises determining the availability of the matching media selection based on an access permission for the matching media selection in the customer subscription. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a transaction request to access at least one of the matching media article or the matching media selection in the search result set. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transaction request comprises a reservation request to reserve the matching media article in the search result set at the article dispensing machine for pickup. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transaction request comprises a pre-reservation request to pre-reserve the matching media article in the search result set for pickup at the article dispensing machine when the matching media article is released. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transaction request comprises a viewing request to view the matching media selection in the search result set at the associated content provider. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving a payment for the at least one of the matching media article or the matching media selection in the search result set, wherein the payment comprises at least one of a charge for the matching media article, a charge for the matching media selection, a discounted charge for the matching media selection, a charge to the associated content provider for the matching media selection, a redemption of a promotion code, a redemption of a credit code, or an upgrade to a premium customer subscription at the associated content provider. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game; and   the media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the search result set comprises ordering the matching media article and the matching media selection based on one or more criteria comprising a price, a version, video quality, audio quality, a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the search request comprises receiving the search request from an audio/visual display interface in communication with the processor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 :
 further comprising determining a device applicability of the matching media selection based on an audio/visual display interface for displaying the matching media selection and technical details of the matching media selection; and   wherein providing the search result set is further based on the determined device applicability of the matching media selection.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the search result set comprises removing the matching media selection from the search result set if the technical details of the matching media selection are not supported by the audio/visual display interface. 
     
     
         19 . A method of searching for media content in a metadata database and an inventory database connected to a processor, the metadata database comprising metadata of a plurality of media articles and metadata of a plurality of media selections, the inventory database comprising availability of the plurality of media articles at a plurality of article dispensing machines, the method comprising:
 receiving a search request from an audio/visual display interface, the search request comprising a search keyword;   selecting at least one media selection having metadata matching the search keyword from the metadata database;   selecting at least one media article having metadata matching the metadata of the selected media selection from the metadata database by utilizing a mapping of the metadata of the selected media selection to the metadata of the plurality of media articles, wherein the selected media article comprises at least one of the selected media selection in physical format, an indirectly matching media selection in physical format, or an indirectly matching media article;   identifying an associated content provider;   determining an availability of the selected media selection for distribution from the associated content provider;   determining an availability of the selected media article at the plurality of article dispensing machines using the inventory database; and   providing a search result set comprising the selected media selection, the associated content provider where the selected media selection is available, the selected media article, and locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines where the selected media article is available.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving a predefined search keyword in response to a browsing request, the predefined search keyword for browsing of static or dynamic listings of the media content; and   selecting the at least one media selection comprises selecting the at least one media selection having metadata matching the predefined search keyword.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving the search request from a first location; and   the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines the selected media article is available comprises the locations of the plurality of the article dispensing machines closest to the first location.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 receiving the search request comprises receiving the search request from a third location; and   the locations of the article dispensing machines the selected media article is available comprises a single location of the article dispensing machine closest to the third location.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the metadata of the plurality of media articles and the metadata of the plurality of media selections each comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein identifying the associated content provider comprises associating a unique customer identifier with a customer subscription at the associated content provider, wherein the customer subscription is stored in a customer profile database connected to the processor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein determining the availability of the selected media selection comprises determining the availability of the selected media selection based on an access permission for the selected media selection in the customer subscription. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing the search result set comprises ordering the selected media article and the selected media selection based on one or more criteria comprising a price, a version, video quality, audio quality, a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 :
 further comprising determining a device applicability of the selected media selection based on the audio/visual display interface for displaying the selected media selection and technical details of the selected media selection; and   wherein providing the search result set is further based on the determined device applicability of the selected media selection.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein providing the search result set comprises removing the selected media selection from the search result set if the technical details of the selected media selection are not supported by the audio/visual display interface. 
     
     
         29 . A network of article dispensing machines comprising:
 an article dispensing machine;   a central memory remote from the article dispensing machine and containing a customer profile database, a metadata database, and an inventory database, the customer profile database containing a customer subscription with an associated content provider based on a unique customer identifier, the metadata database comprising metadata of a plurality of media articles and metadata of a plurality of media selections, and the inventory database comprising availability of the plurality of media articles at the network of article dispensing machines; and   a central processor in communication with the article dispensing machine and the central memory, the central processor comprising a search engine, the central processor for:
 searching the metadata database for the media selection matching search criteria using the search engine, in response to receiving the search criteria from an audio/visual display interface; 
 utilizing a mapping of the metadata of the matching media selection to the metadata of a matching media article in the metadata database to select the matching media article, wherein the selected matching media article comprises at least one of the matching media selection in physical format or an indirectly matching media selection in physical format; 
 identifying the associated content provider in the customer profile database; 
 determining an availability of the matching media selection for distribution from the associated content provider based on the customer subscription with the associated content provider; 
 determining an availability of the matching media article at the article dispensing machine in the inventory database; and 
 providing a search result set comprising the matching media article and the matching media selection, based on the determined availabilities of the matching media article and the matching media selection. 
   
     
     
         30 . The network of article dispensing machines of  claim 29 , wherein the metadata database comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code of the plurality of media articles and the plurality of media selections.